Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2001

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth today reconvenes testimony in the contempt trial of Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and Assistant Secretary Gale Norton.

With four reports and supplemental from court monitor Joseph S. Kieffer III still the major focus of the trial, Tommy Thompson is once again set to take the stand. Last week, the senior trust official confirmed many of the findings contained in the first report, which documents the failure to provide an accounting of funds to 300,000 American Indians.

Thompson also began reviewing with plaintiff attorney Dennis Gingold the second report, which covers the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS). Kieffer's report documented the failure of this $40 million computer software project that is supposed to be the cornerstone of trust reform.

Review of that document will continue today.

First up, though, Lamberth will hear arguments on a preliminary injunction proposed by the plaintiffs. On Saturday evening, they asked the court to force the Department of Interior to make payments to 43,000 American Indians following the collapse of a consent order that was designed to do that.

Lamberth may also address the government's actions to correct numerous network security problems. So far, the Interior has been given permission to reconnect some of its computer systems to the Internet but crucial ones affecting Indian Country are still offline.

Lamberth on Friday gave the government permission to submit further requests to come into compliance with a restraining order that forced the shutdown.

The hearing and trial will begin at 10 a.m. in federal district court in Washington, D.C.

Get the Motion:
Preliminary Injunction to force Interior to issue checks (12/16)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Judge rebuffs Norton challenge (12/17)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://indiantrust.doi.gov
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Interior computer agreement dropped (12/14)
Tribes continue assault on Norton plan (12/14)
In The Hoop: The War on Tribalism (12/14)
Judge eager for Norton testimony (12/13)
Norton must end the Indian Trust sham (12/13)
Interior computer order finalized (12/13)
Tribal consultation begins on BITAM (12/13)
Norton set for first consultation (12/13)
Editorial: Bad faith, wasted dollars (12/13)
Confusion, conflict detailed at Interior (12/12)
Exclusive: Trust reform assessment (12/12)
Lamberth pokes fun at government (12/12)
Attorneys barred from BITAM consultation (12/12)
EDS trust reform report online (12/12)
Coverage of Contempt Trial, Day 2 (12/12)
Editorial: Still ripping off Indians (12/12)
Contempt trial continues (12/11)
Contested reports focus of contempt trial (12/11)
The Trial: Witnesses to Contempt (12/11)
Coverage of Contempt Trial, Day 1 (12/11)
Griles in charge of IT reform (12/11)
Editorial: Take criminal steps on trust fund (12/11)
NPR covers BIA overhaul, trust fund (12/11)
Norton contempt trial opens (12/10)
Norton attacks court monitor (12/10)
Norton set for contempt trial (12/10)
Indian panel urging BITAM slow down (12/10)
Editorial: Appoint IIM receiver (12/10)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)